Frequently asked questions
If you have any queries that are not answered in the FAQ please contact tracteam@exeter.ac.uk.
I work extra hours in the evenings and at the weekend. How should I show my time on the TAS form?
The TAS form asks for the percentage of your time spent on University business.
A significant chunk of my time is spent on administrative duties. Why can’t I put this down as Support - Other?
The TRAC definitions are built around income-generating activities. Obviously, the main ones are teaching and research, but within schools there is small amount of activity that is neither. This is labelled “Other” within the TRAC guidance, and is largely restricted to consultancy. Support for Other is strictly for supporting “other” income-generating activities. Most staff have tiny or no Other/ Support for Other time. The guidance notes give more details.
Where do I put my time on admin?
Where the administrative activity is in support of the whole University, rather than your School, then it is Support for Central University Management. This includes sitting on University committees, or work to promote the University as a whole.
The notes refer to "Scholarly work" under Support for Research and Support for Teaching. How do I decide which heading to use?
Firstly, note that you are not restricted to one or the other: you can use both at the same time. Second, apply the following test: Would you have carried out a certain “scholarly work” activity if you were not involved in a particular research or teaching activity? If you would not have gone to a conference, say, if it were not for its relevance to your research, then it is probably fair to allocate this to Support for Research (and vice versa).
Where do I put holidays and sick leave?
You leave these out completely. Your percentages will be made up of time spent working.
Can I get someone else to complete my form for me?
No. If you have been asked via a system email to complete a form, then you should do so. The exceptions are if you are on maternity leave, or long-term sick leave. In these instances, the school TAS administrator will make an estimate on your behalf.
I am on maternity leave/long term sick leave. What should I do?
You should ignore the email reminders. You should not complete your TAS form. Completing the form is not straightforward, as all of your time away should be categorised as Support time. The school TAS administrator will make an estimate on your behalf.
I have retired/ left the university. Do I have to complete my form?
If you are no longer being paid by the university, then you are under no obligation to complete your form, and the school TAS administrator will make an estimate on your behalf. However, it is very helpful if you do and it only takes a minute or two.
